PAN AND ZOOM CONTROL

• US 20100017740A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Magdalin, Daniil, Steinglass, Alice Pritikin, Vals, Ionela Mirela, O'Cull, Heather Joy, Zenz, Eric McQuaid, Gonzalez Veron, Monica Estela
• Application Number:
  US12/175,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017740A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for providing a pan and zoom control in conjunction with a timeline for navigating project schedule data in a project management application. The project management application displays a pan and zoom control in conjunction with a project schedule timeline, with the pan and zoom control at a position and of a size relative to the timeline that reflects the temporal scope of project schedule data currently displayed. The pan and zoom control is configured to allow a user to move and resize the control along the timeline. Upon detecting movement or resizing of the pan and zoom control, the project management application will change the scope of the project schedule data displayed to match the time period represented by the new position and/or new size of the pan and zoom control in relation to the timeline.

Claims

1. A method for providing a pan and zoom control in conjunction with a display of a timeline in a project management application, the method comprising:

detecting the display of the timeline by the project management application;

upon detecting the display of the timeline, determining a scope of displayed project schedule data; and

displaying the pan and zoom control in proximity to the timeline at a position and a size relative to the timeline corresponding to the scope.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pan and zoom control is configured to be moved along the timeline and resized by a user of the project management application utilizing an input device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting a movement of the pan and zoom control along the timeline to a new position;

upon detecting the movement of the pan and zoom control, determining a time period represented by the new position and the size of the pan and zoom control in relation to the timeline; and

changing the scope of the displayed project schedule data to substantially match the time period.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting a resizing of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline to a new size;

upon detecting the resizing of the pan and zoom control, determining a time period represented by the new size and the position of the pan and zoom control in relation to the timeline; and

changing the scope of the displayed project schedule data to substantially match the time period.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

upon detecting resizing of the pan and zoom control, determining if the new size of the pan and zoom control substantially encompasses all of the timeline; and

upon determining that the new size of the pan and zoom control substantially encompasses all of the timeline, removing the pan and zoom.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the timeline is displayed horizontally and the pan and zoom control is displayed as a horizontal bar parallel to and above the timeline, the size and position of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline indicating a time period corresponding to the scope of the displayed project schedule data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a begin date of the time period is displayed at a first end of the pan and zoom control and an end date of the time period is displayed at a second end of the pan and zoom control.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein display attributes of the timeline are altered to emphasize a portion of the timeline corresponding to the time period.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in the scope of the displayed project schedule data; and

upon detecting the change in the scope, changing the position and the size of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline to reflect the scope.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the project schedule data comprises one of a GANTT chart and tabular data.

11. A computer storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

determine a scope of any project schedule data displayed by a project management application; and

display a pan and zoom control in proximity to a timeline at a position and a size relative to the timeline corresponding to the scope of the project schedule data, the pan and zoom control configured to be moved along the timeline and resized by a user of the project management application.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computer, will cause the computer to:

detect a movement of the pan and zoom control along the timeline to a new position;

upon detecting the movement of the pan and zoom control, determine a time period represented by the new position and the size of the pan and zoom control in relation to the timeline; and

change the scope of the project schedule data displayed to substantially match the time period.

13. The computer storage medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

detect a resizing of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline to a new size;

upon detecting the resizing of the pan and zoom control, determining if the new size of the pan and zoom control substantially encompasses all of the timeline;

upon determining that the new size of the pan and zoom control substantially encompasses all of the timeline, removing the pan and zoom control;

upon determining that the new size of the pan and zoom control does not substantially encompass all of the timeline, determine a time period represented by the new size and the position of the pan and zoom control in relation to the timeline; and

change the scope of the project schedule data displayed to substantially match the time period.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein the timeline is displayed horizontally and the pan and zoom control is displayed as a horizontal bar parallel to and above the timeline, the size and position of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline indicating a time period corresponding to the scope of the project schedule data.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 14, wherein a begin date of the time period is displayed at a first end of the pan and zoom control and an end date of the time period is displayed at a second end of the pan and zoom control.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

detect a change in the scope of the project schedule data; and

upon detecting the change in the scope, change the position and the size of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline to reflect the scope.

17. A computer storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

detect a display of a timeline by a project management application;

upon detecting the display of the timeline, determine a scope of any displayed project schedule data;

display a pan and zoom control in proximity to the timeline at a position and a size relative to the timeline corresponding to the scope, the pan and zoom control configured to be moved along the timeline and resized by a user of the project management application utilizing an input device;

detect a movement of the pan and zoom control along the timeline to a new position;

upon detecting the movement of the pan and zoom control, determine a time period represented by the new position and the size of the pan and zoom control in relation to the timeline;

change the scope of the displayed project schedule data to substantially match the time period;

detect a resizing of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline to a new size;

upon detecting the resizing of the pan and zoom control, determine if the new size of the pan and zoom control substantially encompasses all of the timeline;

upon determining that the new size of the pan and zoom control substantially encompasses all of the timeline, remove the pan and zoom control;

upon determining that the new size of the pan and zoom control does not substantially encompass all of the timeline, determine a time period represented by the new size and the position of the pan and zoom control in relation to the timeline; and

change the scope of the displayed project schedule data to substantially match the time period.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein the timeline is displayed horizontally and the pan and zoom control is displayed as a horizontal bar parallel to and above the timeline, the size and position of the pan and zoom control relative to the timeline indicating a time period corresponding to the scope of the displayed project schedule data.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein a begin date of the time period is displayed at a first end of the pan and zoom control and an end date of the time period is displayed at a second end of the pan and zoom control.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein display attributes of the timeline are altered to emphasize a portion of the timeline corresponding to the time period.